Wedding Ideas: Want to Trim Down for the
Big Day? Save Time with Diet Meal Delivery

Source: jshyun via Flickr

If you're planning your wedding, you may be too busy to focus on healthy eating. As much as you want to have the time to plan out and prepare healthy meals, sometimes it's just too difficult to spend an hour in the kitchen while centerpieces and invitations are taking up brain space. That's where meal delivery diet programs come in. Whether you want to lose some extra pounds before the big day, or don't want to have to focus on cooking your own food, you can benefit a lot by getting tasty and healthy meals delivered straight to your door.

Bistro MD is our number one pick for meal delivery programs. Not only did this diet plan land first place in our independent and double blind diet food taste test, but it placed number one in ABC 7 Live's on-air blind taste test as well. And with our $25 off coupon code for wedding season and summer, you can save some bucks while you're losing weight. Another top rated program we recommend is Diet to Go, which also has a coupon code for 20% off. With Diet to Go, you can even opt to pick up your meals at Walgreens, depending on which city you live in. Check out our full meal delivery program comparison chart to read all of our diet reviews.

If meal delivery isn't for you and you don't mind spending some time to prepare you own healthy food, then Do It Yourself diet programs are a great option to slim down before your special day. Though you still need to cook your own food, these plans make dieting easier by suggesting complete weekly menus of low calorie, balanced meals. Tools such as shopping lists, progress tracking, fitness tips and general health guidance will have you on your way to a successful diet. The top spot in the DIY diets list is eDiets, which also grants our users a 25% discount. At just $14.21 per month, all eDiets plans combine recipes, expert support, general guidelines and a fitness plan into one package. If you want to learn more about eDiets and how it can help you lose weight for before your wedding, read the full review here. To compare all of the DIY diets, click here.

• Tweet

Diet Deal: Get 40% off Nutrisystem
Plus a Free Android Phone

Nutrisystem Android Application

Out of all the meal delivery diet programs that we review, Nutrisystem is the most affordable. Not to mention the 40% discount our readers get on the Success 28-day auto-delivery plan. And now, in addition to that discount, you can receive a free Android smartphone of your choice with a new 2-year plan plus data feature.

After you get your free phone, you can use the Nutrisystem Android application to boost your weight loss success. The application features a meal planner to help you track and plan your meals and water. You can also keep track of your weight, exercise and measurements, as well as write in your personal journal. Everything you record in the application will be synchronized with your Nutrisystem online account.

Want to learn about the Nustrisystem meal delivery plan? Check out our full review of the service, here.

• Tweet

BistroMD Deal: Get $25 Off Your First Order

If you want to lose weight but don't want to sacrifice taste, signing up for the BistroMD meal delivery plan is the way to go. This service ranked #1 in our official diet meal taste test as well as in our on-air blind taste test at the ABC 7Live studios. And now you can get $25 off your first order using our exclusive coupon code, plus you even get free shipping.

Not only is BistroMD the best tasting meal delivery diet program, the service also gets high marks thanks to its helpful on-staff registered dietitians, who are there to help you through the diet process. Want to know more about pricing and program details? Click here to read our full review of BistroMD and get our special $25 off promo code.

• Tweet

Do I Need to Sign a Contract for BistroMD?

Q: Do I need to sign a contract when I sign up for the BistroMD meal delivery program?

A: There is no contract to sign with BistroMD; however, you must pay attention to certain deadlines so that if you do decide to cancel the service, you do not get charged for the following week. When signing up for BistroMD, you are first required to select a particular plan, which include the 5 day without snacks at $129.95 per week, 5 day with snacks at $144.95 per week, 7 day without snacks at $159.95 per week or the 7 day with snacks at $179.95 per week. New customers then have until Sunday at midnight, EST, immediately after they receive their first week’s shipment to let BistroMD know of any changes required for the next week's shipment, including cancellation. Customers in week 2 or more of the service always have until Wednesday at 5 p.m., EST, prior to their next week's shipment to cancel or make any other changes.

BistroMD is our top ranked diet meal delivery program and also took the #1 spot in our diet food taste test. Currently, NextAdvisor readers can get an exclusive $25 discount with the coupon code NEWYOU2012. Click here to read our full review of the service.

• Tweet

Are There Diet Programs
that Cater to People With Diabetes?

Q: My husband and I are diabetic and are looking to start a diet program so we can lose weight. Do any of the programs you review have options for diabetics?

A: It is important to consult your doctor before starting any type of new diet. That said, there are a couple of diet programs that cater specifically to people living with diabetes. If you are looking for a diet meal delivery program, our top rated service BistroMD has an option just for you. If you note that you have diabetes upon signing up with Bistro MD, they will make sure to include certain foods you should be eating if you have diabetes, while at the same time helping you stay away for particular foods. According to Bistro MD, their dietitians make sure that each plan fits specific customer needs. For more information about BistroMD, read our full review of the service, check out our special discount and see how they ranked number 1 in our diet food taste test.

Another diet meal delivery program that is high up on our list is Diet To Go. Also another taste test contender, Diet To Go's traditional and vegetarian low-fat meal plans offer diabetics a menu that satisfies the American Diabetes Association guidelines. According to them, their plans make it easy for you to regulate your blood sugar.

If you are looking for a more hands-on approach to dieting instead of getting food delivered straight to your door, then a do-it-yourself diet program may be a better option for you. eDiets Living With Diabetes meets the recommendations of both the American Diabetes Association and the Joslin Diabetes Center. The plan is designed to keep your blood glucose levels under control, and provides daily guidelines for calories from a specially calculated mix of  complex carbohydrates,  fat and  protein. Read our full review and get the exclusive discount.

• Tweet

What is the Best Do It Yourself Diet for Men?

Q: What is the best DIY diet that you recommend for men who want to lose weight?

A: Most of the DIY diet programs we review cater to both men and women. Because they are, for the most part, highly customizable,  they don't necessarily focus on plans designed specifically for men or women. Instead, they focus on individuals' needs. For example, South Beach Diet doesn't have anything male-specific but our reviewers said that the recipes are filling enough where the majority of dieters won't feel deprived. Many of the recipes contain enough food to feed 2-4 people, so if you're still hungry you can eat extra servings. South Beach Diet also provides very clear guidelines on how to adapt your meal plan if you'd like extra food or want to swap out ingredients. And while our top rated DIY diet program, eDiets, offers their services to both men and women, the eDiets meal delivery program does have male-specific plans. eDiets DIY also has two sub-programs: Glycemic Impact Diet and Living with Diabetes. When you sign up for eDiets they will point out which plan they think is right for you. The Joy Bauer LIFE Diet, another top program that focuses on common sense dieting and positivity, also applies to both men and women. Upon signing up, these programs will ask for your gender, age, weight, goal weight and height.

One program that does offer a plan specifically designed for men is Weight Watchers. With a standard plan that's $48.90 for the first month and $18.95 each month after, it's a little more pricey than the other DIY programs. You can also opt to pay $65.00 for the first 3 months and then pay $18.95 each month after that, which definitely brings the price down. Though Weight Watchers is more expensive, the customization for men may be worth the extra bucks for you. Compare all of our DIY diet programs here.

• Tweet

With BistroMD, How Much Weight Can I Expect to Lose in One Week?

Q: With BistroMD, how much weight can i expect to lose in one week on the 7 day program?

A: Though the amount of weight you lose depends on many factors such as your age, activity level, amount of exercise, medical conditions and present weight, according to BistroMD, on average members can expect to lose around two to three pounds per week.

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the healthy weight loss rate is about 2 pounds per week. They also say that people who lose weight at this steady rate are more successful at keeping the pounds off. BistroMD, our highest-rated diet meal delivery program, definitely takes a cue from this fact — their meal plans are not designed to help you drop a dramatic amount of weight in a short period of time. And instead of just focusing on calorie count and small portions, they put an emphasis on bettering your metabolism with well-balanced meals, making sure that you are constantly getting the right amount of nutrients. Another perk of BistroMD? They're actually delicious! They scored first place in our diet food taste test, and even ABC7's Michael Finney liked BistroMD best when we visited the 7LIVE studios to perform an on-air meal delivery taste test. Check out our full review of BistroMD and see how this service compares to other meal delivery programs.

• Tweet

How Much is the Joy Bauer DIY Diet?

Q: How much does Joy's LIFE Diet cost? I saw the $16/month, but what is the sign up fee?

A: At $16/month, Joy's LIFE Diet comes out to a mere $4.00 per week — members are charged once every 13 weeks. There is no activation fee, but you are required to sign up for a nonrefundable initial five-week-minimum commitment of $20.00. If you'd like, there is an add-on cost of $2.00 per week if you're interested in access to nutritionists and personal trainers.

• Tweet

Can I Customize My Weekly Menu with BistroMD?

Q: With BistroMD, do you have the ability to select particular foods for your weekly menu?

Screenshot: Diet To Go Substitutions

A: As we have said before, taste is an important factor in any diet because if you don't enjoy the food you're eating, it will be quite hard to stick to your plan. BistroMD, the winner of our diet program taste test, has dietitians that organize and create your meal plan each week. Though there is no option to go online and customize the menu that is delivered to you, you can easily go into your BistroMD profile after you are finished ordering and select the types of food that you do not want included in your meal plan. For example, you can say that you do not want any meat, or if you do not like a particular type of meat like pork, you can ask them not to include it.

If you are looking for a meal delivery plan that is a little more customizable, one of our top tasting options is Diet To Go, which offers a handy substitution form if you want to replace particular foods. You can also point out specific dislikes upon ordering. eDiets, The Biggest Loser Meal Plan, Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig have meal customization options as well.

Compare all of our meal delivery programs and find the right one for you.

• Tweet

We Go On-Air with 7Live to Talk About Our Diet Food Taste Test

As you already know, BistroMD came out on top in our diet program taste test. And while some of the other diet meals we tasted were better than others, ABC 7Live's Michael Finney wanted to try it for himself — with our help, of course. If you missed the on-air taste test on ABC, no worries, we've got the clip for you right here. Do Michael's taste buds match up with our independent testers? Watch it and find out!

Want the skinny on meal delivery programs? Compare them all here.

• Tweet